(Figures 22.5-22.6). This supports the previously offered explanation for 

 larger fall catches. 



Length frequencies for six strata sets, arranged by season, are shown in 

 Figures 22.7-22.18. During the spring in the northern areas, larger adult 

 squid were caught inshore as they moved there to spawn (Figures 22.7-22.8). 

 Younger and smaller squid more frequently were caught offshore (Figures 22.10- 

 22.12). In the autumn, small young squid appeared in all areas especially 

 inshore (Figures 22.13-22.15). 



Figures 22.19 and 22.21) show the percentage occurrence by stratum of 

 young-of-the-year (YOY); cutoff sizes were 15 and 8 cm for spring and autumn 

 series, respectively. YOY occur in all strata during both seasons. In spring 

 they seemed to be more common offshore, and in autumn they occurred with 

 greater frequency inshore. 



The occurrence of all sizes of squid in most of the shelf areas during 

 most of the year, combined with their importance as prey to many species of 

 fish, indicates their great ecological importance to the Middle Atlantic Bight 

 area. 



476 



